4/10/2007

Local News

Warm welcome for German visitor

Pyrford Primary pupils Lucy Gray, Rebecca Menhennett, Ellen-Beth Aldridge and Bethany Wolfenden are enjoying clubs organised by German youth worker Peter Bertz.

A GERMAN visitor is learning about life in England while spending a year with a local church.

Nineteen-year-old Peter Bertz, who comes from Belzig in Brandenburg, has enjoyed working with parishioners at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Coldharbour Road, Pyrford,  since his arrival earlier this month.

He said: “I was searching on the internet and found a site about the Time for God organisation, which sends people to churches around the world.

“I got in touch with them and arranged a meeting for more information. I am now in England for a year. It is nicer than I first expected and the food is very good. I have only just seen the first day of rain and apart from that, the weather has been good.

“The people are nice and the community has been very welcoming.”

In between leading clubs for youngsters at the church and for pupils at neighbouring Pyrford Primary School, Mr Bertz has also had time to visit London, which he said he found very interesting.

He added: “I have just finished school and decided to take this year out as public service otherwise I would have had to join the army for nine months.

“I would like to go to university and maybe study philosophy but I will be using this year to think about what I want to do.”

First printed in: Byfleet News and Mail